Abstract
The interaction between ethanol and various GABAergic drugs (muscimol, bicuculline, picrotoxin) with regard to their effects on locomotor activity, drug-induced sleep, body temperature, and convulsions was studied. It was demonstrated that the GABA receptor agonist muscimol potentiated the sedative properties of ethanol, while the opposite effect, a reduction of ethanol-produced sedation, was seen upon administration of the GABA receptor blocking agent picrotoxin. Consequently, the results from the present series of experiments indicate that ethanol enhances central GABAergic activity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
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Bicuculline / pharmacology*
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Body Temperature Regulation / drug effects
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Ethanol / pharmacology*
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Female
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Motor Activity / drug effects
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Muridae
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Muscimol / pharmacology*
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Oxazoles / pharmacology*
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Pentylenetetrazole / pharmacology
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Picrotoxin / pharmacology*
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Receptors, Cell Surface / drug effects*
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Receptors, GABA-A
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Seizures / chemically induced
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Sleep Stages / drug effects
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Strychnine / pharmacology
Substances
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Oxazoles
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, GABA-A
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Picrotoxin
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Muscimol
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Ethanol
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Strychnine
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Pentylenetetrazole
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Bicuculline